Charles e



(No Model.)

No. 540,875. Patented June 11,1895.

TATES' ATENT CHARLES E. PRICE, OF GREENVILLE, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE RANNEY REFRIGERATOR COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

proved device of the character described, sus- To aZZ whom it may 0071 067729.

-side elevation (the lid in section) of the strap STOP F OR REFRIGERATOR-LIBS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 540,875, dated June 11, 1895. Application filed December 11, 1893- Serial lilo. 493,440. (No model.)

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. PRICE, of Greenville, in the county of Montcalm and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stops for Lids of-Refrigerators or other-Receptacles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to lid stops or braces for use on refrigerator lids, trunk lids and other similar receptacles in which it is desirable to support the coverin an open position, and it has for its object to produce an imeeptible of use in ditferent'ways, or on receptacles the lids of which itis desirable to support in changed positions under diderent circumstances. The device is at the same time extremely simple and economical of construction as well as convenient in use.

The invention consists in .the matters here inafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in connection with the following de scription.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the slotted metal strap. Fig. 2 is a applied to the lid and body of a refrigerator. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a different way of applying the stop to the refrigerator. Fig. 4 is a similar'view of a modified form of the device. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing an alternative arrangement of the modification illustrated in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the. box, taken through line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

Referring to said drawings, A designates the ice box or refrigerator as a whole, B the cover and O the top rim of the box, these parts all being of the ordinary construction. D designates a longitudinally slotted piece of strap iron secured against the inner vertical face of the rim piece 0 at either end of the box, in any convenient manner, as for example, in the manner shown herein, '5. 6., let

into said rim so as to be flush with its face,

.and secured thereon by means of screws inserted through suitable screw holes at either end. Said strap D is slotted longitudinally at E. Engaging, and adapted to slide within said slot E, is the right-angled end of the strap or bar F, this part F being also desir-- ably made of strap iron. The right angled portion of said strap, as shown in this instance and as conveniently made, is formed by means of a headed rivet or lug f securely riveted in the strap F, the headed portion f engaging the inner sides of the slot (the rim being suitably recessed at c opposite said slot) and serving to prevent the rivet from slipping out of the slot E when the parts are in position on the box. At its opposite end the strap F is pivotally secured to the vertical end face of the packing portion 19 of the lid which fits within the rim 0 when the lid is closed, this part b being enough smaller than the rim within which it fits to permit the brace or lid stop'F to rest between said portion band the adjacent part of the refrigerator rim when the lid is closed.

As shown in this instance, the lid stop is applied to a sideboard refrigerator, '5. e., a refrigerator provided with a side-board top B overhanging the refrigerator proper and therefore preventing the opening of the lid I beyond a certain point, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. In order that the lid stop may act to automatically engage and hold the lid in this partially opened position, the slot E of the strip D is provided in its lower margin with a notch or shouldered portion e so located as to engage the right-angled part or rivet f of the strap F when the lid is in its open position. It

will be obvious that as the lid is opened the brace F, being pivoted at its upper end, will slide at its opposite end along the slot E until it reaches the notch e and will then drop therein.

The shouldered side of this notch being arranged toward the forward end of the slot, it V will, upon releasing or lowering the lid, auto- 5 matically engage and hold the brace and thus prevent the lid from closing. When it is desired to'close the lid the brace F is simply lifted out of the notch by hand and the cover lowered,the rivet f sliding along the forward re: lower margin of the slot E. In practice, refrigerators of this style are frequently made with the side-board top removable at pleasure,

and in such case it is of course more convenient to have the refrigerator cover arranged so as to open more widely than the lid is' shown in Fig. 2. In order that the same lid stop may be used also in this event or upon any ordinary refrigerator or box, the strap D and slot E are made considerably longer than would otherwise be necessary, and the strap D is taken ott and turned over end for end and replaced. This brings the notch e on the upper side of the slot, as shown in Fig. 3, where it will not interfere with the sliding of the brace in either direction, and the slot E being of sufficient length, the lid may be opened past its center of gravity or beyond a vertical position, at which point the part f will engage the end of the slot and thus hold the lid against further opening.

Thus constructed and arranged it will be seen that I have provided a simple, strong and exceedingly convenient. form of lid stop and one which works equally well in either capacity, whether used on an ordinary ice box or under circumstances preventing the cover from being opened fully.

1t willof course be understood that various modifications in the particular details of construction or arrangement may be made without departing from my invention as, for in stance, it will be obvious that the slotted portion of the piece D may be arranged as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 to engage the lid directly, in which positions the strap F may be omitted, the stop pin fbeing secured to the lid. It is also obvious without fin'tlterillustration that a simple rod or other form of bar with abent end may be used in place of the flat iron strap F, the end being simply bent at a rightangle to enter and engage the slot In the construction shown in Fig. 4 it will be observed that the notchedside of the slotted bar D is arranged toward the lid, whilein the construction shown in Fig. 5 it is placed away from the lid, in the first instance the object being to hold the lid in an inclined position toward front of the refrigerator because of the presence of the side-board portion B, while in the latter instance the object is to allow the lid to be opened freely and to prevent its turning on its hinges too far to the rear. The use of the strap F, therefore, while preferred, is not essential.

I claim as my invention The combination with a refrigerator box or 55 similar receptacle having a hinged lid provided on its inner face with a packing portion adapted when the lid is closed to fit within the rim of the box, of a reversible lid stop comprising a straight, flat metal strap secured fiat-wise against theinner rim of the box and provided with a longitudinally arranged slot, a notch or shoulder in one of the side margins of the slot midway of its length, symmetrically arranged apertures at each end of said strap for the reception of securing devices, whereby it may be secured to the rim with either edge uppermost, and a flat brace-bar pivotally secured at one end to said packing portion of the lid and provided at its other end with a headed stud projecting at right angles therefrom and extending within said slot, said straps being arranged to fold together edgewise in the closing of the lid, whereby they will occupy a minimum space between the packing and rim of the box, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. PRICE.

\Vitnesscs:

F. E. RANNEY, Jso. Lnwrs. 

